Softball Voted Sixth in NE10 Northeast Division

Skyhawks open the 2019 season with 10 games in Florida


Perez finished third on the team in batting average (.240) (PHOTO BY: SportsPix)

Northeast-10 Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll Release

EASTON, Mass. (January 30, 2018) – The Stonehill College softball team has been voted to finish sixth in the Northeast-10 Conference's Northeast Division, as voted on by the coaches, announced by the Conference on Tuesday.

Stonehill is coming off an 8-31 season, including a 7-22 mark in NE10 and Northeast divisional action. Head coach Ken LeGrice enters his 10th season leading the Skyhawks with an overall record of 170-205-2 (.453), including 124-122-1 (.504) in NE10 play. Stonehill has reached the NE10 Tournament five times under LeGrice's leadership, including four times in the past seven years. In the last nine years, the Skyhawks have reached the 20-win mark twice.

Stonehill was picked sixth in the NE10 Northeast Division Preseason Poll with 38 points, as Saint Anselm College was voted to take the Northeast Divisional title with 108 points and 11 first-place votes. Southern New Hampshire University was voted second with 98 votes and three first-place votes and Merrimack College rounded out the top three with 89 points and the final first-place vote. Assumption College (70 points) and Bentley University (58 points) secured fourth and fifth place, respectively.

In the Southwest Division, defending two-time NE10 Champion, Adelphi University was voted to earn the Division title recording 88 points and four first-place votes, while Pace University totaled 83 points and seven first-place tallies, for second place.  


Theilgard earned a spot on the All-Conference third team and All-Rookie Team, after being ranked in five NE10 categories

Thirteen return from last years' squad, including seniors Carly Rennie, Sophie Perez, and Taylor Whaley. Perez ended last season with a .240 batting average, leading the team in doubles (10), as Rennie scored a career best 12 runs and 27 hits for the Skyhawks.

Sophomore Michelle Theilgard led the team with a .358 batting average in her first season in the Purple & White, as she was tabbed on the All-Conference third team and All-Rookie Team and classmate Hannah Ricker received All-Rookie team recognition ranked second on the team with a .279 batting average. Theilgard was ranked in a few NE10 categories, including seventh in batting average (358), ninth in homeruns (5), 13th in walks (19), 17th in doubles (9) and 20th in RBI (25).

On the mound, juniors Kazi Walker and Katherine Rayner, who have plenty of experience will  lead the way for the pitching staff, while sophomores Genna Hartman and Julia Perrone will add depth to the lineup.

Stonehill is scheduled to open its 2019 campaign against the Mercy College and Bloomfield College in a doubleheader on Sunday, March 3 starting at 3:45 p.m. in Minneola, Florida in the Minneola Athletic Complex. The team continues its Florida trip with four more doubleheaders until Saturday, March 9. The squad returns home and takes a week off from games before hosting Bentley University in a doubleheader on Wednesday, March 20 at 3:00 p.m. on Fr. Gartland Field.

For the latest on Stonehill Athletics, follow the Skyhawks via social media on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Fans can also download the Stonehill Skyhawks "Front Row" mobile app, powered by PrestoSports, on iTunes and the Android Market.

Northeast-10 Conference Softball 2017 Preseason Poll

Northeast Division

  1. Saint Anselm – 108 (11)
  2. Southern New Hampshire – 98 (3)
  3. Merrimack – 89 (1)
  4. Assumption - 70
  5. Bentley - 58
  6. Stonehill - 38
  7. Franklin Pierce - 38
  8. Saint Michael's – 33

Southwest Division

  1. Adelphi – 88 (4)
  2. Pace – 83 (7)
  3. New Haven – 77 (3)
  4. Le Moyne – 70 (1)
  5. Southern Connecticut – 39
  6. Saint Rose - 34
  7. American International - 23

() – first-place votes